Commandos 2: Men of Courage 2001
Why it still holds upA squad of specialists, each with abilities of their own, and missions with several objectives still give it plenty to plan today.
Classic adventure games that still hold up
Somewhere to get to, and plenty in the way
Games
Commandos 2: Men of Courage 2001
Why it still holds upA squad of specialists, each with abilities of their own, and missions with several objectives still give it plenty to plan today.
Metro Exodus 2019
Why it still holds upChoosing how to approach each objective, between open areas and linear stretches, still gives it room to play your way today.
Final Fantasy XII 2006
Why it still holds upGambits, which let you program how each character fights, still make combat a matter of setup as much as input today.
Shenmue 1999
Why it still holds upA Yokosuka where characters have their own models, voices and routines, and shops and buses keep schedules, still invites exploring today.
Thief II: The Metal Age 2000
Why it still holds upLarge levels with several routes, and tools that change light and sound, still leave you to plan your own way past the guards today.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back 1997
Why it still holds upHub rooms that save, and let you leave a hard stage and come back, still make it easy to approach today.
The Banner Saga 2 2016
Why it still holds upUnits that play differently, such as the charging Horseborn and the support focused Ravens, on a grid where position decides fights, still reward planning today.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King 2004
Why it still holds upA whole 3D world to cross, with more to do than fight, still gives the adventure plenty of ways to play today.
Subnautica 2018
Why it still holds upAs you go deeper the sea grows more dangerous, and upgrades such as a submarine give you a reason to keep exploring, which still drives the descent today.
Kingdom Hearts 2002
Why it still holds upSimple controls and a structure of self contained worlds, each with its own sub story, still make it easy to pick up and repeat today.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2010
Why it still holds upClear roles for the AI party and rewards for exploring still make both fights and wandering worth the time today.
Pikmin 2 2004
Why it still holds upA day that always runs short, with randomly built caves below it, still makes every trip a set of choices today.
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action 2016
Why it still holds upA world told through confessions and small details, rather than exposition, still makes each shift a conversation worth listening to today.
Chrono Cross 1999
Why it still holds upGrowth that comes from bosses instead of grinding, and a stamina bar for each action, still keep every battle worth thinking about today.
Monument Valley II 2017
Why it still holds upSingle screen perspective puzzles with simple touch controls, and a new idea in every level instead of a reused one, still keep each screen worth solving today.
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 1993
Why it still holds upChoosing exactly what to ask each person, one day at a time, still makes the investigation a slow puzzle of listening today.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time 2003
Why it still holds upA hard jump that can be retried at once, by rewinding, still keeps its acrobatics easy to enjoy today.
Forza Horizon 4 2018
Why it still holds upThe same roads still look different through the year, in a world that turns through four seasons.
Super Mario Sunshine 2002
Why it still holds upOne water backpack with several movement modes drives every level, while the secret courses without it test pure platforming, which still gives the game two kinds of jumping today.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword 2011
Why it still holds upEnemy defenses you answer with the direction of your swing, and a hub revisited with new goals, still make combat and exploring feel connected today.
Skies of Arcadia 2000
Why it still holds upA blank sky map that you fill in by flying between islands still gives exploration a sense of discovery today.
Homeworld 1999
Why it still holds upA fleet that has to last the whole campaign, moving in three dimensions, still makes every battle in space worth planning today.
Vagrant Story 2000
Why it still holds upChains that raise your risk, and gear that counts for more than levels, still make each fight a trade between risk and reward today.
Devil May Cry 2001
Why it still holds upBeing judged on how well you fight, not only on whether you win, still turns every encounter into a performance.
Conker's Bad Fur Day 2001
Why it still holds upSimple moves and pads that hand you the right tool at the right spot still keep each stretch moving today.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem 2002
Why it still holds upIts sanity effects tie tension to how you fight, and three antagonist paths still give a replay something new today.
Jet Grind Radio 2000
Also known as Jet Set Radio
Why it still holds upA race against the timer with the police closing in still keeps each area tense.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars 2009
Why it still holds upIt still has a look of its own, with a camera that looks down on an open city and outlined comic book shapes.
Resident Evil Code: Veronica X 2000
Why it still holds upSparse ammunition and limited saves still make each room a risk to enter.